>> get ready for "teen kids news." here's what's coming up. >> it's catching on in big cities and small communities, and you can do it too. >> if you're one of the millions of girls struggling with weight, you'll definitely want to hear what this teen has to say. >> some kids are encouraged to play video games in school. find out why. >> i'll have a tip that just might help you do better on your next test. >> we'll meet a family that's milking their way to success. >> i'll tell you the story behind the story of the boy who wouldn't grow up. >> that and more, next on "teen kids news."

>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm siena. we'll start with our top story. >> five years ago, we told you about the big step one city took to help the environment. brandon reports that more and more communities are now taking up the cause. >> they stuff our landfills, tangle in our trees, and they kill sea birds and mammals. plastic bags -- ever year, we use and throw away millions of them. >> plastic bags are a huge litter problem throughout the world. >> we interviewed mr. bloomenfeld back in 2007 when san francisco became the first city in the u.s. to ban plastic bags. large stores were not allowed to offer them to customers. the ban was a success. so the city then voted to expand

it to every store in town. now communities all across the country are hopping on the "ban" wagon. the day after rye, new york, passed its law against plastic bags, teens were handing out green alternatives. >> there are no more plastic bags going to be offered in stores, so we're helping people out by giving them reusable bags. >> reusable bags are considered the best alternative... >> wonderful. >> ...because even paper bags are bad for the environment. although they can be recycled, they still use up natural resources to make, and the manufacturing process causes pollution. >> it's completely useless to use something once and then throw it away. >> people who work to ban plastic bags say the new laws help reduce the use of paper products, too. >> what most of these communities have seen when they pass these types of laws, is that they've seen an increase in reusable-bag rates, which means that their purchases of paper bags have gone down. >> by their using a bag that

they can use in other stores and at other times, it reduces my costs for paper bags. >> long ago, stores didn't give out bags at all. you had to bring your own. now people are relearning how to do that once again. >> we have a sign by the cash register that asks if they've brought their reusable bag, and a number of people have said, "oh, that's a great reminder. hold on, i'll be right back," and they go back to their car. >> we keep, actually, reusable bags in the back of our car, so every time we go to the store, we use those instead of plastic bags. >> shortly after rye passed its bill, los angeles became the biggest city in the country to outlaw plastic bags. but we still have a long way to go. bangladesh and rwanda banned plastic bags years before any community in the u.s. did. so remember, you don't need a law to go green. just the desire and the commitment to do the right thing. >> there's more "teen kids news"

coming up next. >> we'll bright back. >> the debates are over, early voting is under way, and it's now the final race for the white house. president barack obama and republican presidential candidate governor mitt romney are in their final push to sway voters and get out the vote. the candidates are focusing on the crucial battleground states and those undecided voters. >> this is an election about big things, about big choices. and that's why in november we're going to elect a person and a team and a people who are gonna come together to bring real change and big change to america. [ cheers and applause ] >> we imagine a better america, and then we work hard to make it happen. that's who we are. that's why i'm asking for your vote. and if you give me your vote, i promise you, you will always

have a president who hears your voices. >> in the meantime, sandy unleashed her wrath of fury along the east coast after killing at least 66 people in the caribbean. the monster storm packed hurricane-strength winds, torrential rain, and caused massive damage as it ripped through north carolina, delaware, and up the seaboard through the new york city area. also, microsoft launching its new windows 8 operating system and surface tablet with a major redesign. this is the biggest overhaul of the tech giant's operating software in nearly 20 years. >> what we've done is actually reimagined windows, and we've reimagined, essentially, the whole pc industry. in addition to notebooks and desktops, we introduced the pc as tablet. >> the operating system will be available for pcs and tablets. for "teen kids news," i'm jenna lee, "fox news channel in the classroom."

>> this report is brought to you by fitsmi.com. one out of every three american kids is overweight. and research shows that girls struggling to get fit are often the least likely to get the help they need. so denise's story is encouraging. about a year ago, she came across fitsmi while surfing the web. it's an online community of teens like her, trying to lose weight. and she's willing to share her story with us. hi, denise. >> hello! >> has weight always been an issue for you? >> you know, when i was younger, it was never really an issue, but once i moved into my teens, i moved around a lot. i changed a lot of schools, and along the way, i dropped lots of activities. so that's when the weight really started packing on and just becoming a problem. >> and how did it affect you? >> at the beginning, really, i didn't notice it. i just didn't notice it at all.

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>> it shouldn't come as a you feel before taking a test, . aneicks pshogyyou'll do ll professor at the iversity ochicago. h sesafctusoke" gives insights >> well, there's actually a simple technique for coping with the stress -- it's writing. o itabt eifeinund that students of anxiety or stress for just 10 minutes before their exam actually perrm better on tests. h tdoitthprrontal cortex. that's the area your brain that si right above your eyes. your working memory is housed there. scrah d that hel you work through complex problems. when worries creep in, your working memory becomes overload, d atanau u to cave to the pressure. feelings, you're giving yourself an opportunity to express thos rries. thisctually frs up space in your head. writing can also give you insights into what specifically t nt meouava gu out.

test, take a few minutes. write about your feelings. it should make all the difference. >> i guess you can call that the "wtewatoaka test. thanks, dr. beock. >> you're welcome. and good luck on your next test. >> to mark our 10th year on tv, ea wk,e ke lk ck at one of the stories we've covered. >> it's a truck that goes off-road. way f-ad this is a ston duck. it's a truck that's not afraid to get wet. >> this is, i believe, our 12th season on the boston duck tours. >> we took a special ride on the boston duck tour. it's a way to see the city from land a wern e me vehicle. the ducks were around long before this tour began. they go all the way back to world war ii. anwh ia st dk? >> a boston du is basically a world war ii amphibious landing craft that has been converted into a touring vehicle. so we take people ound the city of boston on land and then also into the charles river.

these vehicles were used for a lot of different things during world war ii. and mainly they were used as a supply vehicle because they could take supplies from ships onto the mainland. >> the amphibious trucks became known as "dukws." originally designed by general motors, the duck was 31 feet long and 8 feet wide. that's over three times the size of your average s.u.v. it weighed 6h tons, even though it had no armor. it traveled 50 miles per hour on land and 6 miles per hour in water. it's a challenge for the tour's con-duck-tors. [conductors] >> they're pretty interesting to drive 'cause you are basically driving a military tank through boston traffic, which can be challenging at times. >> so is it kind of a pain 'cause it's so slow? sometimes you do wish it had a little more pick-up on land. >> for the tour's passengers, it's the perfect speed to take in the historic boston sights. in boston, i'm tyler for "teen kids news."

>> it's one thing to play a video game, but it's a whole different learning experience to be able to create a video game. diyu met some students who are doing just that. >> well, my game is, basically, this guy has been robbed, and he comes home and he sees his house is a mess and his money's gone. and he's been left a ransom note, so he has to go all over. and he goes to the city to, like, defeat the robber and to get all of his money back. >> but the story is just the beginning. it takes s.t.e.m. to get things moving... that's why these students are part of a nationwide competition. >> the national s.t.e.m. video-game challenge was inspired by president obama's "educate to innovate" initiative

with the hopes of calling folks' attention to the need for more science, technology, engineering, and math education in the country. >> the challenge is issued every year to students and teachers. they're going after recognition and prizes like computer equipment. >> today, you know, you're still working on your game. you have, essentially, until thursday. >> for some students, the competition is an eye-opening experience. >> before this challenge, i didn't really like math or science. i thought they were kind of boring. >> once you get kids involved in creating games, they are learning s.t.e.m., but they're also learning a lot of other 21st-century skills, like leadership and teamwork, and they're getting critical thinking and all these other things that come along with it in that package. >> it's a team effort. students start by brainstorming concepts that would make a good game. >> and part of the process is that they have to come up with a design document first, where

they basically map out the whole idea for the game and they have to come up with a story line and all that. >> these kids are learning basic engineering. every step requires figuring out what works and what doesn't. becoming an engineer is a smart career to consider. they're in great demand by all sorts of companies. >> so, wherever we go, engineers are critical in terms of solving some of our biggest problems in the world. >> when you work and study and excel... >> the competition top winners are celebrated in washington, d.c. you can find out more by following the link on our website. but truly, every kid who develops more s.t.e.m. skills has reason to be proud. >> i kind of was into science. i didn't like math as much. but now i see that it's actually really interesting. >> it doesn't even feel like a working class. it's more about having fun, and trying your best, and it's a good experience. >> and that's exactly the reason behind the s.t.e.m. video-game challenge.

for "tkn," i'm diyu. >> hey, everyone, there's still time to enter toshiba's exploravision. it's a science competition that asks you to imagine new technology for the future. open to all students from kindergarten to 12th grade. projects are due by january 31st. just check out exploravision.org to get started. >> coming up, i'll take you to broadway for "peter and the starcatcher." >> it's a bedtime story many of us grew up with -- "peter pan." but did you ever wonder how peter became the boy who wouldn't grow up? as emily reports, delighted audiences are finding out eight times a week, including twice on wednesdays and saturdays. >> when i was a boy, i wished i could fly. >> the play is called "peter and the starcatcher."

it imagines a time when peter pan was a lonely orphan. while aboard a ship, he meets a girl named molly with a magical secret. >> i'm a starcatcher. [ magical tones ] we have special powers that we use in secret to keep starstuff away from tyrants who try to rule the world. >> the original story about peter pan was written by j.m. barrie in 1902, and it was written for adults. but the book became a children's classic, and this play is packing in the teens. >> oh, it was really, really funny. >> it was so creative, and i wanted to keep seeing more. >> it was just hilarious. >> i think it's perfect for teens, and some of the best people at the stage door have been teenagers. peter pan and my character are 13 years old. there's a lot of our qualities that i think resonate with teenagers. >> celia gave me a quick tour of the theater. we went under the stage, through

a sea of costumes, and then back up again. >> do you want to see my dressing room? >> sure. even though celia is the starcatcher, there's no star hanging on her dressing room door. >> there are no, sort of, "stars" of the show, which is actually something that i really like about this piece, is that it's an ensemble. everybody does everything. >> there's more than 100 different roles in the play, and they're all performed by only 12 actors. >> and we are lords >> and captains. >> mothers. >> orphans. >> sailors. >> pirates. >> tropical kings. >> it's actually some of the most fun i've ever had in my young, short career. >> it's not just the actors who have fun. the set designers are pretty playful, as well. for example, the arch around the stage is handcrafted from household objects. look closely and you'll see the designs are made from things like flyswatters, corks, forks, and garden tools. >> it's a really bare stage, so we're responsible for creating the entire world, visually and

atmospherically. >> and that gets to the heart of "peter and the starcatcher." it's all about using your imagination. peter must use his to rescue a trunk filled with magical starstuff. and the audience has a role to play, as well. >> and use your thoughts to hoist the sails. >> that's the great thing about the theater. everyone brings their imagination. it's the one thing that we carry with us that nobody can take away. >> i spoke with the play's writer at the legendary theater restaurant, sardi's. >> what's wonderful about the theater is that in the theater, i can say, "see this sword? i'm gonna fight you with it." and you're gonna react as though it's a sword. >> the story of peter pan is over 100 years old. why has it stayed so popular? >> well, how would you feel if someone came home and said, "you never have to have a bedtime, and you never have to have any chores, and you never have to have any homework, and you get to do whatever you want. and you're always going to be as beautiful as you are right now." does that sound good?

that's why. >> can you keep a secret? >> yes, i can. but here's one secret i want everyone to know. "peter and the starcatcher" is a musical that's truly magical. for "tkn," i'm emily. [ whistling and applause ] >> that's all for this week. thanks for joining us. >> we'll see you next time with more "teen kids news."

steves: pisa, in the north of italy, is a grand city with a grand history. for nearly three centuries,

until about the year 1300, pisa was a booming port town, rivaling venice and genoa as a sea-trading power. from here, where the arno river meets the sea, its 150-foot galleys cruised most of the mediterranean. during the crusades, pisan ships transported entire armies to the holy land. like many italian city-states, the republic of pisa prided itself in its independence from both popes and emperors. but eventually its fleet was defeated by genoa and its port silted up, leaving the town's economy high and dry. pisa's three must-see sights -- the duomo, baptistery, and leaning bell tower -- are reminders of its long-ago sea-trading wealth. this dazzling ensemble floats regally on the best lawn in all of italy. this square -- the piazza del duomo -- was nicknamed the "campo dei miracoli," or field of miracles, for the grandness of the undertaking.

the architectural style throughout is pisa's very own pisan romanesque. where traditional romanesque has a heavy, fortress feel, pisan romanesque is light and elegant. the buildings, with their tight rows of thin columns, geometric designs, and striped colored marble, give the campo a striking unity. the 200-foot-tall bell tower is famous because it leans about 15 feet. the tower started to lean almost immediately after construction began. various architects tried to correct the problem of the leaning by straightening up the top section. the tower tilted a little more each year, and was in danger of actually falling over. over the centuries, they tried every trick imaginable to stop the tilt. finally, they figured it out, stabilized the tower, and in 2001, the leaning tower of pisa was reopened to the climbing public.

climbing to the top is an unforgettable experience, offering great views of the city, the square, and its dramatic duomo. pisa's huge and richly decorated duomo, or cathedral, is artistically more important than its more famous bell tower. its ornate facade glitters in the sun. the 320-foot nave was the longest in christendom in the 12th century, when it was built. the floor plan is that of a traditional roman basilica -- 68 corinthian columns dividing the nave into five aisles. the striped marble and arches on columns give it an exotic feel. the pulpit by giovanni pisano dates from around 1300. pisano left no stone uncarved in his pursuit of beauty.

while this was sculpted over a century before the renaissance began, michelangelo himself traveled here to marvel at pisano's work, drawing inspiration from its realism. around the top, christ's life unfolds in a continuous scroll. the infamous massacre of the innocents is powerful. king herod, so threatened by this newborn king, orders the slaughter of all the first-born sons in hopes of killing baby jesus. mary and joseph load up the donkey and hustle their son down to egypt as the bloody massacre proceeds. the sculptor captures the horror of this event with a skill unprecedented in its day. pisano's 400 intricately sculpted figures all weave a complex theological ideal. this provides a symbolic foundation designed to legitimize and reinforce the gospel message the priests read from the lectern crowning the pulpit.

in the middle ages, you couldn't even enter the church until you were baptized. that's why baptisteries like pisa's were free-standing buildings adjacent to the church. the interior is simple and spacious. a statue of john, the first baptist, the man who baptized christ, seems to say, "welcome to my baptistery." the finely crafted font is plenty big for baptizing adults by immersion, medieval-style. the highlight here for most is the remarkable acoustics, resulting in echoes long enough to let you sing three-part harmony... solo. [ singing harmonizes with echoes ] [ singing echoes ]